What is the oldest Dip Pen you own?

[Auntor]

I once read a similar post about fountain pens on FPN. Since there are many dip pen users and collectors in FPN, I thought it would be interesting to know what is the oldest one in their possession. 

 

 

My humble collection consists of just three dip pen holders. One is a modern wooden straight holder and the other two are the oldest ones.

 

 

I know this one is old but I couldn't figure out the exact time period.

 

 

It's not very clear, but upon close inspection one can see "Calcutta" (old name of Kolkata, capital city of West Bengal state in India) imprinted on it.

 

The second dip pen is much more dipped into history. It was gifted to me by one of my father's friend (in fact, the first one is also his gift). It belonged to his grandfather, Manoranjan Sengupta, who happened to be an Indian freedom fighter and a companion of the famous Indian revolutionary "Bagha" Jatin.

(Here is the link of the Wikipedia page on Bagha Jatin. You will also find the name of Manoranjan Sengupta mentioned in the 'Death' section.  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagha_Jatin )

 

 

If Manoranjan Sengupta himself didn't  inherit the holder from one of his predecessors then I think it might be from the early decades of 1900.

I am not sure about the material of this pen. It feels somewhat like buffalo horn. Another possibility is laquer (must be hundreds of layers if it is really so) on wood.

 

 

I am pretty proud of this holder. It thrills me when I hold it in my hand knowing that it was once used by a great man who sacrificed his life for the freedom of my nation.

 

Now it's your to turn to tell me about the oldest dip pen in your collection.

[Bo Bo Olson]

My first one, the ink well is French Art Deco @ 1925 Dip pen is celluloid I've no idea but would think before 1920.

I've another one somewhere that is somewhat similar.

I picked them up at various flea markets a long time ago as unusual.

 

The silver one polished up nicely...1900?

another 1900 one. guess.

 

 

Steel, Caucasian mountain area is a guess from a Ukrainian lady who lives in my building. The aged Russian Doctor couldn't read it.

Could be '20's, could be older.

Some of my 'new' ones. 10-50 years old???

I have as many more.....there was a time when i was young and foolish and thought I'd learn calligraphy. Many different nibs.

 

I have a newer plastic one with a feed.Dip and write a long time.

 

And if you take bees wax you can make your dip pen write lots longer. invented by someone, and the pitcher is from someone else somewhere.  but is needed to show how. Heat wax, apply and then press in the combs/rills.

I got the plastic one with the feed before I did this...did buy a 100% beeswax candle to do that with....Then came the gift.

[AAAndrew]

Your first holder is a design that was made for quite a long time, from the mid-19th-century up to the mid-20th-century at least. It was a very popular design and copied by a lot of manufacturers.

 

Your second holder is a curious one and I would love to see more pictures of the end where the pen (nib) goes in. 

 

As for my oldest dip pen, I'm a bit of an outlier since I am a serious dip pen collector and historian. Probably the oldest dip pen (nib) in my collection that can be safely dated is this one. 

 

 

Mark Levy and his brothers made pens in New York City between 1841 and 1845. I have two of them, this and a "School Pen." Not sure which is truly older, but regardless, they are both older than any others in my collection. Pens from this age are extremely rare. These were made to be disposable and few survived. It's a total fluke that these both survived 180 years. 

 

As for pen holders, the oldest one I can confidently date is the special holder that came with an early Esterbrook Mammoth pen. These pens were trademarked in 1881 and first appear in print in the 1883 catalog. The one I have is from the first few years, before they started mounting them on cards. 

 

 

 

[Auntor]

9 hours ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

My first one, the ink well is French Art Deco @ 1925 Dip pen is celluloid I've no idea but would think before 1920.

I've another one somewhere that is somewhat similar.

I picked them up at various flea markets a long time ago as unusual.

 

The silver one polished up nicely...1900?

another 1900 one. guess.

 

 

Steel, Caucasian mountain area is a guess from a Ukrainian lady who lives in my building. The aged Russian Doctor couldn't read it.

Could be '20's, could be older.

Some of my 'new' ones. 10-50 years old???

I have as many more.....there was a time when i was young and foolish and thought I'd learn calligraphy. Many different nibs.

 

I have a newer plastic one with a feed.Dip and write a long time.

 

And if you take bees wax you can make your dip pen write lots longer. invented by someone, and the pitcher is from someone else somewhere.  but is needed to show how. Heat wax, apply and then press in the combs/rills.

I got the plastic one with the feed before I did this...did buy a 100% beeswax candle to do that with....Then came the gift.

Truly wonderful collection of pen holders and the inkwells are eye-candy.

[Auntor]

3 hours ago, AAAndrew said:

Your first holder is a design that was made for quite a long time, from the mid-19th-century up to the mid-20th-century at least. It was a very popular design and copied by a lot of manufacturers.

 

Your second holder is a curious one and I would love to see more pictures of the end where the pen (nib) goes in. 

 

As for my oldest dip pen, I'm a bit of an outlier since I am a serious dip pen collector and historian. Probably the oldest dip pen (nib) in my collection that can be safely dated is this one. 

 

 

Mark Levy and his brothers made pens in New York City between 1841 and 1845. I have two of them, this and a "School Pen." Not sure which is truly older, but regardless, they are both older than any others in my collection. Pens from this age are extremely rare. These were made to be disposable and few survived. It's a total fluke that these both survived 180 years. 

 

As for pen holders, the oldest one I can confidently date is the special holder that came with an early Esterbrook Mammoth pen. These pens were trademarked in 1881 and first appear in print in the 1883 catalog. The one I have is from the first few years, before they started mounting them on cards. 

 

 

 

You have an extraordinary collection sir.

I have read your articles about steel pen and pen holders on your website. Loved them.

Here are some images of the ferule(?) part of the holder. 

(Sorry, for the bad photography😅)

 

 

 

 

So far I have used a fountain pen nib with my holders (I am still new to the world of fountain and dip pen collection)... but I am thinking of buying some real dip pen nibs. Can you suggest some good contemporary ones?

Also, I am curious to know whether you use dip pens for your regular writing or not?

[Boston Brian]

Compared to what has gone before I am so modern!  My oldest pens are WWII vintage. Conway Stewart, and Parker Victory. 

[Waltz For Zizi]

I don't have any😭

The closest thing I have is a Montegrappa Extra Desk pen from the 30's.

[MrBen]

This is the oldest I have that I am certain of the date albeit likely older

This pen was made by Charles F. NEWTON (C.F. Newton) on or before November  1861, inscribed with Newtons name and inscribed with an inscription in german translated to "To Dr Bernhard Stern from his friend Martin Ullman.)

C.F Newton was the apprentice of Albert Bagley of Bagley Pen Company eventually selling the company in part to C.F Newton.

It's arguable but Bagley is believed to be the first person to patent this pen design.

Currently this is the only pen of it's kind made by C F Newton, I have been unable to find any others ascribed to C.F Newton, although there are others similar made by various companies no others bears his name. Bagley and Newton both served in the same regiment during the Civil War, both survived.

[Bo Bo Olson]

On 8/18/2023 at 7:26 AM, Auntor said:

Truly wonderful collection of pen holders and the inkwells are eye-candy

Thank you Antor.

I have all but the last three or four inkwells over in Paper section. Some 40 inkwells, singles or doubles. I'm down to no more room.

The pen holders just happened, not chased. LOM.

............

Mr. Benn, that is really dammed nice.

 

Your pen may be stolen, in I'm writing a western saga taking place in 1881-2.

I've picked nuggets from Andrew too.

My main research is my 1895 Montgomery Ward and 1902 Sears replica catalogs. And here.

[justsomerandombloke]

On 8/17/2023 at 8:53 PM, Bo Bo Olson said:

Steel, Caucasian mountain area is a guess from a Ukrainian lady who lives in my building. The aged Russian Doctor couldn't read it.

Could be '20's, could be older.

If there's any text on it, I can try reading it.

[Bo Bo Olson]

17 hours ago, justsomerandombloke said:

I can try reading it

I'll see if I can get my wife to photograph it. I've no need of a Handie; so have not learned to fiddle with hers.

Old picture, mostly of a couple inkwells.

The black inkwell if from before 1872 and the War France lost, in it has the Bonaparte bee on it. The other white marble tiny 'Ladies' inkwell is also from near that time.

Slightly clear picture of the dip pen.